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They return from Saudi Arabia with tales of woe

By A Correspondent

NEDUMBASSERY, FEB. 15. Two years of hard labour and 15 days in jail - this was in store in Saudi Arabia for this young man from Thuruthipuram in Ernakulam district

He was one among the 90 Indians who arrived at the airport here after being released on amnesty by the Saudi Government. They arrived here early morning by Emirates flight, EK 3532. There were 40 Malayalis from Kochi, Malappuram, Kollam, Kozhikode, Alappuzha, Thiruvananthapuram, Palakkad, and Thrissur districts in the group. They have returned with the help of an emergency certificate issued by the Indian Embassy.

Work offered

The young man, who chose to remain anonymous, said it was two years ago that he had gone to Saudi Arabia on a labour visa. He had studied only up to fifth standard. And his sponsor had offered him work at a construction site.

For the first nine months, he worked for his sponsor, but was not paid. Having spent more than Rs. 1 lakh for going to Saudi Arabia, he had no option but to take up another job.

But he was caught by the police for breach of contract. By then, his visa had expired and he was put in jail for 15 days.

The Indian Embassy came to his rescue by arranging for an emergency certificate.

Ill-treatment

Ill-treatment by sponsors made life difficult for labourers in Saudi Arabia. And they landed up in jails on many occasions, the young man said.

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